John WatsonMessages: 6581Registered: January 2010 Location: Global Village

Senior Member

I'm going to have spend most of May in America, probably half the time in Boston and the rest of the time in Rhode Island. With any luck, I'll have some evenings perhaps weekends free. I wondered if any of the Americans here can recommend anything interesting to do in Boston? Places to go or things to do that are enjoyable by yourself? I have no shame about doing touristy things.
The last occasion I was in America I didn't have time to do anything but work, this one may be different.

John WatsonMessages: 6581Registered: January 2010 Location: Global Village

Senior Member

Thanks, people. There is this thing they call they call the Freedom Trail which covers a lot of these, I'll try to do that (I said I have no shame about being a tourist) and for the rest, well, the Aquarium is across the road from the hotel I'm booked into so I must be able to manage that, and the MIT museum looks essential for a dweeb like me. I don't think I'll try any sport (cricket is a mystery to me, so I'ld have no chance with baseball) but some music would be nice. I have more than a feeling that there should be something there.

New England aquarium is worth for its giant ocean tank. Tank closed right now for renovation.http://www.neaq.org/index.php
I would consider whale watch as an alternative.
If you want to grab a pint, Boston is full of them places. Visit northend and you will find everything Italian.
Since you don't mind to be a tourist, visit Niagara Falls with one of those 2 day bus tours from Chinatown,Boston.
The bus is bad, hotel is ugly but You do not have to drive and they will get the job done

Rhode Island could keep you occupied. I myself just came from Newport(RI). Spent the day with kid visiting those mansions.

John WatsonMessages: 6581Registered: January 2010 Location: Global Village

Senior Member

A pity the the fish tank is empty.
I didn't know one could do whale watching, I used to to do a lot of that in SA. I shall be careful to avoid ships with names like Pequod.

But, JD, when you say "there are some really old cemeteries in Boston" that is so funny to a European. I just checked out the Granary Burying Ground, and the first stiff was planted in 1660. Gosh! The village church up the road from me is 12th century, man.

>> I wonder if this is in the brochure
The brochure is all about "sunshine".
Been to Niagara many times and once took that tourist bus as I was the only driver in that party and don't want to
drive all myself.Mine was not essentially a bad experience, but weird though. Those services are pretty booked up.
Don't understand why. Probably a tourist thingy.

But, JD, when you say "there are some really old cemeteries in Boston" that is so funny to a European. I just checked out the Granary Burying Ground, and the first stiff was planted in 1660. Gosh! The village church up the road from me is 12th century, man.

So true John, but as we all know, until Columbus came in 1492, we didn't have much of anything here.
And old to me is anything before about 1900

John WatsonMessages: 6581Registered: January 2010 Location: Global Village

Senior Member

Finished with Boston - at last. Thankyou for the free-time suggestions, people. I acted on a few of them. In Boston, I took in most of the Freedom Trail, in not one but two guided tours. They were pretty good - and free! If I were writing the scripts, I would probably make the English a bit less villainous, but the only real problem was the pronunciation of "Faneuil". I was saying "Fan-oo-wee", but the locals make it rhyme with "Daniel". In RI, I did a tour (I have no shame about being a tourist) of Newport, but visited only one mansion: The Breakers, that horrific thing built by the Vanderbilt family. How anyone could produce such a repulsive demonstration of vulgarity without dying of shame is beyond me. For example, there is gold leaf everywhere. Except in one room, where the leaf isn't golf: it is platinum.
Home soon. Flight delays permitting.